”I think we are a fast bowler short, but it’s a decision of the selection committee,” Hafeez told reporters on Monday in the southern port city of Karachi.

The squad was announced by selectors last week.

Speaking during the four-day final of Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament, the President’s Patron’s Trophy, Hafeez backed each of the four chosen pacemen.

”Junaid Khan is very good and is improving very fast, and then we have Umar Gul who is very experienced,” Hafeez said after being dismissed by Gul for just four runs off 28 balls on Monday in the first innings.

”Ehsan Adil is new but I think when you put pressure on a new player he tends to give his best.

”Irfan has also given a good performance in Twenty20 (against India) from where he was selected for the ODIs in India and now for Tests.”

Pakistan has played just six Tests over the last year – three each against England and Sri Lanka – with a break of nearly six months between the two series.